Week of October 26

2026-W44: Oct 26 – November 1, 2026
FINAL: Last update October 30, 2026
COUNTRIES IN THE NEWS: Brazil
Russia
Israel
Serbia
Ukraine
Iran
Romania
Saudi Arabia
NEWS LANGUAGE: English
Polski (original)

Serbia's election upends Vučić's government as Belgraders celebrate and the Kremlin sends a message

First published Mon, Oct 26

Serbia's parliamentary election has produced a political upheaval, with Serbian politicians describing a "disgraceful defeat" for the right and open speculation about who will govern the country next. The result was treated as one of the most important turning points in the history of the pro-Russian state.1 2 3

Crowds in Belgrade celebrated through the night after the result, with revellers calling for Vučić's team to be put in prison. The mood in the Serbian capital was described as euphoric.3

The Kremlin sent a message to Serbia's incoming authorities, saying: "We hope they will understand." The statement was directed at the new government in Belgrade.4

Polish politicians commented on the outcome, casting it as a rout of the right in both Serbia and Brazil. The Serbian vote and the Brazilian election were discussed together in those reactions.2

Lula da Silva wins Brazil's presidential election as Bolsonaro demands the result be annulled

First published Mon, Oct 26 · Updated Tue, Oct 27

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won Brazil's presidential election, a result described as a surprise for observers and for Brazilians themselves. The outcome is being called a political earthquake in Brazil, and it marks a spectacular return for a figure cast as a giant of Brazilian politics.1 2 3

Jair Bolsonaro is demanding that the election be annulled. The result and his challenge to it have put Brazilian politics at the centre of international attention.4 5

The result landed as a shock for investors, who had bet the other way. Rzeczpospolita reported that Lula's victory could trigger a crash on the Brazilian stock exchange and quoted the outcome as a negative result for investors, while Bankier.pl reported that investors had badly miscalculated.6 5

Money.pl reported that Lula crossed Donald Trump's plans and that the media are describing a great turnaround. Onet reported that Lula will be president without real power.7 2

UPDATES

Tue, Oct 27 · New interpretation

Polish outlets cast Lula's win as a fourth term and a turnaround in his own trajectory, with Money.pl describing his path "from shoeshine boy to a fourth term" as president of Brazil.8

Israeli army chief refused Netanyahu's order to provoke war with Iran before elections, Israeli media report

First published Mon, Oct 26

Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to provoke a war with Iran before elections, and that the army chief refused to carry out the order. The reports were carried by Polish outlets across the political spectrum, including Gazeta, Onet, Wyborcza and WP Wiadomości.1 2 3 4

Netanyahu said publicly that he had issued an order to topple the Iranian regime, and spoke of a directive given to Mossad. He also published an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv.4 2 5

The refusal was framed in the Polish reports around a quote that the army "will not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of our children." The reports present the order and the refusal as tied to Netanyahu's political position ahead of elections.1 4

Israel's parliamentary election exit polls show opposition bloc ahead but no clear winner

First published Wed, Oct 28 · Updated Thu, Oct 29

Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.

Exit polls from Israel's parliamentary election showed the opposition bloc ahead, with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud posting a strong result, but no clear winner emerged. The uncertainty left the outcome of the vote open. Netanyahu and opposition figure Eisenkot had already cast their ballots as voting was under way.1 2 3

The opposition leader issued a firm call to Netanyahu after the vote, according to PolsatNews.pl. The appeal followed exit polls that put the opposition bloc on top without a decisive majority.4

Attributed claim: Rzeczpospolita reported an unexpected turn in the Israeli election and cast Donald Trump as triumphant, a framing the other cited accounts did not carry. The remaining outlets described the result as uncertain, with no clear winner from the exit polls.5 2 6

Onet's opinion piece named three big winners of what it called a historic election, while stressing uncertainty in Israel. The cited accounts gave no final seat totals and no confirmed coalition outcome.6

UPDATES

Thu, Oct 29 · New interpretation

Axios reported that Benjamin Netanyahu sought Donald Trump's backing before the Knesset election, a report Gazeta headlined as "signs of desperation."7

The Israeli vote was framed as a contest over the country's survival, with the anti-Netanyahu camp fighting for power and the question posed of what happens if Netanyahu loses.8 9

Polish court convicts Bishop Andrzej Jeż, imposing two years of restricted liberty

First published Fri, Oct 30

A Polish court convicted Bishop Andrzej Jeż and imposed a sentence of two years of restricted liberty, the first such verdict against a bishop in Poland. The case concerns paedophilia in the church, and the bishop's trial was drawing to a close as the ruling was announced.1 2 3 4

A prosecutor in the case said the verdict shows there are no equals and more equal than others. A court spokeswoman gave a pointed reaction to the ruling, as reported by right-leaning WP Wiadomości.5 6

Also this week

Published earlier this week and since overtaken by bigger stories. Open one to read it in full.

Kaczyński floats polexit as Tusk vows to win "hard fight" over EUFri, Oct 30Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of PiS, used a speech attacking the European Union to raise the possibility of Poland leaving the bloc as a route to reforming it. His remarks drew a response from Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said: "A hard fight. I do not intend to lose it."

Kaczyński floats polexit as Tusk vows to win "hard fight" over EU

First published Fri, Oct 30

Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of PiS, used a speech attacking the European Union to raise the possibility of Poland leaving the bloc as a route to reforming it. His remarks drew a response from Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said: "A hard fight. I do not intend to lose it."1 2

Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus of the Left, a member of the European Parliament, called Kaczyński's words on the EU "very dangerous" and said the people most pleased by his speech are Mentzen and Braun. She also addressed Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz's allegations about violence in the government, saying: "Politics is not a rosary circle."3

PolsatNews.pl summed up the reaction to Kaczyński's speech with the phrase "a drowning man clutches at a razor," while WP Wiadomości reported that the words on the EU caused shock and carried a comment from the Civic Platform.4 5

Mateusz Morawiecki positioned himself differently from Kaczyński, calling only for a revision of EU policy rather than raising the prospect of leaving the bloc.1

Daniel Rutkowski resigns as head of Poland's AOTMiT health technology agencyFri, Oct 30Daniel Rutkowski has resigned as president of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System (AOTMiT), the body that sets the value of medical services and collects data on doctors' earnings. Rzeczpospolita reported that he stepped down with immediate effect.

Daniel Rutkowski resigns as head of Poland's AOTMiT health technology agency

First published Fri, Oct 30

Daniel Rutkowski has resigned as president of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System (AOTMiT), the body that sets the value of medical services and collects data on doctors' earnings. Rzeczpospolita reported that he stepped down with immediate effect.1 2 3 4

Rutkowski explained his departure by saying he did not want to take part in what was happening, and Money.pl quoted him citing "material fatigue."1 5 3

The agency he led prices services for the National Health Fund (NFZ) and gathers data on physicians' pay, which is how Onet framed the resignation.6 4

Poland's CBŚP arrests Ukrainian man in Warsaw over alleged Russian-directed sabotage plotThu, Oct 29Officers of Poland's Central Bureau for Combating Organised Crime (CBŚP) detained a Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw suspected of involvement in preparing acts of sabotage. CBŚP spokesman Krzysztof Wrześniowski said the targets were a plant developing weapons and ammunition of strategic international importance, which the plotters intended to set on fire.

Poland's CBŚP arrests Ukrainian man in Warsaw over alleged Russian-directed sabotage plot

First published Thu, Oct 29

Officers of Poland's Central Bureau for Combating Organised Crime (CBŚP) detained a Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw suspected of involvement in preparing acts of sabotage. CBŚP spokesman Krzysztof Wrześniowski said the targets were a plant developing weapons and ammunition of strategic international importance, which the plotters intended to set on fire.1

Polish outlets reported that the detained man worked for Russia. Onet and PolsatNews.pl described him as a 25-year-old acting on Russian orders, and Interia Wydarzenia tied the case to a fire at a Romanian arms plant, saying the trail led to Poland.2 3 4

A follow-up report named a second suspect: a 21-year-old Ukrainian was among those detained over plans for sabotage in Poland, with a quoted line saying he "created a route to Ukraine."5

The arrest was reported across the political spectrum, from centre-left TVN24 to right-leaning WP Wiadomości, with no cited account disputing the detention or its stated reason.1 6 7

Senate backs alcohol levy changes to raise small-bottle fees by 300 percent from JanuaryThu, Oct 29Poland's Senate has approved changes to alcohol levies that will raise the ALK fee on small bottles by 300 percent, with the higher charges due to take effect in January. The revenue is to go to the National Health Fund (NFZ).

Senate backs alcohol levy changes to raise small-bottle fees by 300 percent from January

First published Thu, Oct 29

Poland's Senate has approved changes to alcohol levies that will raise the ALK fee on small bottles by 300 percent, with the higher charges due to take effect in January. The revenue is to go to the National Health Fund (NFZ).1 2

The regulation targets the small-format bottles sold by the millions in Polish shops each month, a segment the Sejm is now preparing to regulate. The changes are expected to push up prices on those bottles first.3 4 2

The small-bottle trade is put at 6 billion zloty, and the government's plan is described as an overhaul of the alcohol market.5

The Senate's approval means the higher charges are set to apply from January, with the proceeds directed to the health fund.1

Nawrocki's lawsuit against Onet over Grand Hotel opens with first public hearing in courtWed, Oct 28President Karol Nawrocki has sued the publisher of Onet over its reporting on the Grand Hotel in Sopot, and the case reached its first public hearing. The trial centres on the material about the hotel that the portal published. Onet journalist Jacek Harłukowicz said after the hearing that the outlet had been certain of what it wrote from the start, and that witnesses in court confirmed the accounts they had earlier given to journalists.

Nawrocki's lawsuit against Onet over Grand Hotel opens with first public hearing in court

First published Wed, Oct 28

President Karol Nawrocki has sued the publisher of Onet over its reporting on the Grand Hotel in Sopot, and the case reached its first public hearing. The trial centres on the material about the hotel that the portal published. Onet journalist Jacek Harłukowicz said after the hearing that the outlet had been certain of what it wrote from the start, and that witnesses in court confirmed the accounts they had earlier given to journalists.1 2 3 4

A key witness testified about what she saw at the hotel. Her account was reported with her remark that she had the impression a pimp was entering with a prostitute. Another witness, identified as a former colleague of Nawrocki from Hotel Grand, also gave evidence at the hearing.5 6 7

Antoni Macierewicz disrupted the hearing when he tried to enter the courtroom without a pass. The incident was reported alongside the testimony from the session.2 6

Nawrocki is to give testimony in the case, and a date for that has been set. The proceedings concern the article about the Grand Hotel in Sopot.8 4

Harłukowicz also addressed the possibility that the head of state could be questioned in the case. A further account of the testimony was framed around the assessment that everything had collapsed.1 9

Tusk names Agnieszka Bartol to replace Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as funds ministerTue, Oct 27Prime Minister Donald Tusk named Agnieszka Bartol to replace Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as minister of funds, according to Business Insider Polska. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz had left Tusk's government, framing her departure around principle and saying values mattered more to her than posts. A political scientist quoted by RMF24 called the appointment a big asset.

Tusk names Agnieszka Bartol to replace Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as funds minister

First published Tue, Oct 27

Prime Minister Donald Tusk named Agnieszka Bartol to replace Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz as minister of funds, according to Business Insider Polska. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz had left Tusk's government, framing her departure around principle and saying values mattered more to her than posts. A political scientist quoted by RMF24 called the appointment a big asset.1 2 3

Szymon Hołownia reacted sharply to Pełczyńska-Nałęcz's exit, describing it as an "escape" that causes "measurable damage," Interia Wydarzenia and Onet reported. He said Poland 2050 would get through "this bend" as well, Gazeta reported. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz answered the criticism, saying "apparently I rigged the elections," WP Wiadomości reported.4 5 6 7

The replacement was settled the same day Pełczyńska-Nałęcz's departure was confirmed, with talks on a successor scheduled for that day, RMF24 reported. Bartol's appointment was carried by Business Insider Polska under the headline that the prime minister had given the name.2 1

Polish ministry asks GDDKiA to review A2 tolls after 140 percent price riseTue, Oct 27Poland's ministry has asked the state road authority GDDKiA for an opinion on tolls on the A2 motorway, a step reported as a possible move toward terminating the concession contract. The ministry is analysing whether the concession can be broken, and the government is checking the option of withdrawing from the agreement.

Polish ministry asks GDDKiA to review A2 tolls after 140 percent price rise

First published Tue, Oct 27

Poland's ministry has asked the state road authority GDDKiA for an opinion on tolls on the A2 motorway, a step reported as a possible move toward terminating the concession contract. The ministry is analysing whether the concession can be broken, and the government is checking the option of withdrawing from the agreement.1 2 3

The review follows a rise in A2 tolls of more than 140 percent, with one report putting a single journey at 41 zloty. The ministry's action is presented as a response to the scale of the increases.3 4 2

The possible termination of the A2 concession is the subject of the ministry's decision, and the request to GDDKiA concerns the tolls. Whether the contract will actually be cancelled has not been settled in the accounts.1 5

Polish deputy speaker says Senate pact between Nawrocki and Braun is probably agreedTue, Oct 27A deputy speaker of the Sejm said a Senate pact involving President Karol Nawrocki and Grzegorz Braun is probably settled, describing it as "probably agreed." The remark was carried by PolsatNews.pl and picked up by Onet, which framed the question as whether Nawrocki and Braun will join forces.

Polish deputy speaker says Senate pact between Nawrocki and Braun is probably agreed

First published Tue, Oct 27

A deputy speaker of the Sejm said a Senate pact involving President Karol Nawrocki and Grzegorz Braun is probably settled, describing it as "probably agreed." The remark was carried by PolsatNews.pl and picked up by Onet, which framed the question as whether Nawrocki and Braun will join forces.1 2

Wprost reported that Płaczek confirmed the participation of people from both Nawrocki's and Braun's camps in the right-wing Senate pact. The arrangement concerns right-wing candidates for the Senate.3

Czarnek spoke about a joint start by the right and was asked about Braun, Fakt reported. TVN24 also carried his comments on a common right-wing run.4 5

TVN24 reported a direct appeal to the president over the matter, quoting the words "Mr President, you are thinking wrongly on this matter." The statement was directed at Nawrocki's approach to running with Braun for the Senate.5

Houthi rebels claim attacks on Riyadh airport and Aramco oil facilities in Saudi ArabiaMon, Oct 26Houthi rebels say they struck targets inside Saudi Arabia, including the airport in the capital Riyadh and oil installations belonging to Aramco. The claims cover more than military bases, with the rebels naming Saudi airports and Aramco facilities among the targets.

Houthi rebels claim attacks on Riyadh airport and Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia

First published Mon, Oct 26

Houthi rebels say they struck targets inside Saudi Arabia, including the airport in the capital Riyadh and oil installations belonging to Aramco. The claims cover more than military bases, with the rebels naming Saudi airports and Aramco facilities among the targets.1 2 3 4

One account describes the action as another rebel attack on Riyadh airport, following earlier strikes on the kingdom. The reported targets also include military bases, alongside the airport and oil sites.1 2 3

Rzeczpospolita reports that the Houthis say they have again attacked the East-West pipeline. That claim appears in its headline on the strikes, alongside the accounts of airport and Aramco targets.5

On Thursday, Onet reported that the Houthis were said to have attacked the airport in the Saudi capital. The earlier reports of the strikes were published on Monday.6 2

Częstochowa voters remove mayor Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk in referendum as Tusk voices satisfactionMon, Oct 26Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the referendum result, saying he could express satisfaction. He also said that "my people are handling the president," and described himself as having satisfaction over the outcome.

Częstochowa voters remove mayor Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk in referendum as Tusk voices satisfaction

First published Mon, Oct 26

Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the referendum result, saying he could express satisfaction. He also said that "my people are handling the president," and described himself as having satisfaction over the outcome.1 2 3

Portal Samorządowy reported that Matyjaszczyk was not defended even by his own party. The result was placed alongside developments in Kraków and Gliwice as a shake-up in local government.4 5

Following the referendum, Czarnek called for a joint candidate, saying "let us put forward a common candidate." Czarzasty spoke about the referendum "with distance," while Tusk said he had satisfaction.6 7